Explosive detonates in SUV driven by North Carolina man
APEX, N.C. -- Federal officials are investigating after a small explosive detonated inside an SUV being driven by a North Carolina man Thursday afternoon, reports CBS affiliate WRAL.
Police were called to the scene after the victim called 911.
"I had vandalization to my car. I guess you could say attempted murder, I don't know," the man told the 911 operator.
He told police the explosive detonated inside his muffler as he was driving away from his Apex, N.C., neighborhood. Police said a package containing an explosive was intentionally placed in the SUV's muffler.
The explosion was small and the man suffered only a bruised toe.
At least 10 homes in the area were evacuated and nearby traffic was detoured.
Stefan Mroczkiewicz, who lives in the subdivision, told WRAL the sound shook his house.
"I looked out the window and saw there was a huge puff of smoke going down the street. I just assumed his car blew up," Mroczkiewicz said.
Capt. Randall Rhyne of the Cary, N.C., Police Department, which serves parts of Apex, said the investigation had been handed to the ATF.
"We want the public to know there's no public safety issue and we do believe it's an isolated incident," Rhyne said.